Best Way To Eliminate HUGE Hair Algae Problem And Coral Issues?

rastaangel · #1 05-23-2011, 11:23 PM

Long story short I switched over from using GFO and DeNitrate to control nutrients to Prodbio in hopes of a better reef tank...
To be blunt the prodbio isnt doing anything as I have been told it takes something like 6 months to work. So its been almost 2.5 months and have seen no positive affects so I have since added another carbon source in hopes that it will help.
BUT since I switched over I have a MASSIVELY HUGE hair algea issue and most of my corals are either losing color, have no PE, or are flat out dieing.
Anyone got any suggestions? If I keep losing all my nice ORAs ill snap!!!

whatcaneyedo · #2 05-23-2011, 11:33 PM

What are your water chemistry parameters?

rastaangel · #3 05-23-2011, 11:49 PM

Phos-0
Nitrate-0
Both 0 cuz the algae is using all the phosphate and nitrate in the water
Silicate-0
Calcium-420
Magnesium-1300
Potassium-400
Alkalinity-9

whatcaneyedo · #4 05-24-2011, 12:05 AM

I'd revert back to using GFO to starve the hair algae of phosphate. Boosting magnesium up to 1500 specifically with Kent Tech M has worked for a lot of us to get rid of bryopsis if that is the type of hair algae that you have. For some people, using conventional magnesium salts works too. For me, it was Kent Tech M. That and good old fashion water changes... I've played around with Prodibio a little bit but its just too expensive and I don't believe it does anything to reduce phosphate.

naesco · #5 05-24-2011, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rastaangel

Long story short I switched over from using GFO and DeNitrate to control nutrients to Prodbio in hopes of a better reef tank...
To be blunt the prodbio isnt doing anything as I have been told it takes something like 6 months to work. So its been almost 2.5 months and have seen no positive affects so I have since added another carbon source in hopes that it will help.
BUT since I switched over I have a MASSIVELY HUGE hair algea issue and most of my corals are either losing color, have no PE, or are flat out dieing.
Anyone got any suggestions? If I keep losing all my nice ORAs ill snap!!!

The best hair algae problem solver is a sea hare.
You will be surprised to see how quickly it devours the algae.
You need to be careful of two things.
When almost all the algae is gone you have to feed it nori or wardley's spirulina discs or it will starve to death or give it to another reefer who has the same problem.
Secondly, you have to carefully acclimate the sea hare for at lease and hour slowly dripping your tank water into the bag it came in.

rastaangel · #6 05-24-2011, 12:16 AM

I went into bay side on sat to get a sea hare but the one they had was spoken for... So I picked up some turbos and abalone
I have always done 10% weekly water changes on my tank

naesco · #7 05-24-2011, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rastaangel

I went into bay side on sat to get a sea hare but the one they had was spoken for... So I picked up some turbos and abalone
I have always done 10% weekly water changes on my tank

Simply ask them to order one in for you. If you have a serious hair algae issue you will need a sea hare.

ALang · #8 05-24-2011, 03:12 AM

OR, to see if anyone in your area will LOAN you one.
That way, you can pass it on when you run out of HA.

rastaangel · #9 05-24-2011, 03:23 AM

I dunno anyone in my area that does saltwater to mooch one off of. I would have to get one at bayside or the reef shoppe

shrimpchips · #10 05-24-2011, 03:30 AM

What's the size of your tank, fish (and size), skimmer, lighting (how old are the bulbs, photoperiod), flow in side tank, feeding schedule (and what you feed)? These will be important determinants of algae problems too. Also, how long has your system been set up?

What brand of salt are you using?

Are you using RO/DI water?

Also, if anything, switch to larger weekly water changes.